This Land Is Not My Land

Considered by many to be his best work, This Land Is Not My Land is a series of poems written by a young A. D. Winans when he was a Military Policeman stationed in Panama during the U.S. occupation of that country. In these short narrative poems, Winans depicts scenes of ordinary poor people sacrificed to the forces of corporate greed and power. Though these are not ‘political’ poems per se, they are slices of reality compressed into thumbnail sketches that give the reader a sympathetic view of the lives of third world citizens and the inequities between rich and poor nations. Originally published in 2005 as a Presa Press chapbook, This Land Is Not My Land was given the PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Literary Achievement Award. The new edition has eight new poems contributed by A. D. Winans at the age of 78.

“We’re fortunate to have a poet who gives us a first-person account of the unspeakable human sacrifices to the gods of American ‘democracy’: Profit and Property.” -Harold Norse, from the Preface

“…an important book for anyone interested in powerful poetry and its expression.” -J. Wesley Clark, Bogg

“This is a small, concise book, but like a burning match, your mind has to handle it with care and caution. The words scorch the page.” -Kirby Congdon, Home Planet News

“Honest, scathing, important poems.” -Vince Gotera, North American Review